Writing Assignment 1: Jargon and Technical Terminology
Overview: Technical writers often face the challenges of communicating workplace jargon to non-technical populations. As your text indicates, the primary role of a technical communicator is to provide information to various types of audiences. In this initial phase, we will identify chemistry terms that need definition, and, when possible, provide "plain English" definitions. It is most important, at this phase, to identify the complicated words; you do not need to define them (yet).
Directions: To complete this assignment, please follow these steps.
1. Access the following URLs and identify all of the words that you do not immediately understand (you must find a minimum of 5 words not identified by another student);
2. You will need to remember the URL of the original post, so it is best to work on one post at a time. You will be cutting and pasting the URL onto the wiki.
4. Follow the directions posted there, and list the word and create a link to the original source;
5. If possible, define the word using "plain English." Be sure to cite outside sources.
Assessment/Grading Rubric: This assignment is worth 100 points. Your work will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Did you spell everything correctly? Did you pay attention to grammar/mechanics? 25 points
2. Did you follow the instructions for posting? 15 points
3. Did you create and generate links to the original URLs? 25 points
4. Did you pay attention to layout and design? 15 points
5. Did you complete the assignment in a timely and efficient manner? Did you seek help with questions? Did you communicate, via the blog, any questions or concerns? 20 points.
Writing Assignment 1: Jargon and Technical Terminology
Overview: Technical writers often face the challenges of communicating workplace jargon to non-technical populations. As your text indicates, the primary role of a technical communicator is to provide information to various types of audiences. In this initial phase, we will identify chemistry terms that need definition, and, when possible, provide "plain English" definitions. It is most important, at this phase, to identify the complicated words; you do not need to define them (yet).
Directions: To complete this assignment, please follow these steps.
1. Access the following URLs and identify all of the words that you do not immediately understand (you must find a minimum of 5 words not identified by another student);
UsefulChem Blog
If you need more places to go, please visit:
Experiment 9
Experiment 8
Experiment 7
Experiment 6
Experiment 5
Experiment 4
Experiment 3
Experiment 2
Experiment 1
2. You will need to remember the URL of the original post, so it is best to work on one post at a time. You will be cutting and pasting the URL onto the wiki.
3. Go to the project page http://usefulchem.wikispaces.com/terms to post your terms/definitions;
4. Follow the directions posted there, and list the word and create a link to the original source;
5. If possible, define the word using "plain English." Be sure to cite outside sources.
Assessment/Grading Rubric:
This assignment is worth 100 points. Your work will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Did you spell everything correctly? Did you pay attention to grammar/mechanics? 25 points
2. Did you follow the instructions for posting? 15 points
3. Did you create and generate links to the original URLs? 25 points
4. Did you pay attention to layout and design? 15 points
5. Did you complete the assignment in a timely and efficient manner? Did you seek help with questions? Did you communicate, via the blog, any questions or concerns? 20 points.